Deployed to Iraq, just bought an 8. Wife is asking questions I can't answer.(Help!)
 

Okay so, I'm new to Mazda, Rx8's, and rotaries in general. I just bought a 2005 rx8, and my wife picked up today.

Side note: I've never touched the car to know any of this(still in Iraq)

Her questions:

Where is the oil dipstick?
Where does she actually add oil?


I just had to replace the batteries in it because they apparently died.
If anyone could help, that would be greatly appreciated.

The big plastic engine cover should have a smaller flap in the drivers side section of it. Pop off that flap, and underneath will be the dipstick.

When she goes to add engine oil, she needs to fully remove the whole large plastic cover, and then it should be obvious where the oil fill is located. Make sure she knows to use a funnel to help prevent oil from getting onto places its not supposed to be.

She might be better off just removing the whole plastic cover if she knows the car needs to have oil added (ie - low oil light came on).

BC.

I'll cut you some slack since you are deployed :)

This is what she sees:
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/M.../Engine-md.jpg

Remove that top cover with the rotary symbol on it, it just lifts off, and she sees:
http://image.motortrend.com/f/278550...engine-bay.jpg
(Or pretty close to it)

The OEM oil cap is yellow, and centered very obviously under that cover. Actually, the above pic is an R3, which is series 2 and they improved the dipstick location, so you can actually see the yellow handle in that pic. The 2005 is in the same location, but about 8-10 inches farther down into the engine bay.

Or here is a pic, it's circled. The arrows point to the oil filter behind the upper intake manifold (UIM)
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/M.../Engine-md.jpg

The dipstick is to the right of that, here:
http://static.wix.com/media/43f699df...138038d.wix_mp

She has to reach down through coolant piping and wiring to get to it. It's best reached from standing at the driver's side front wheel.

To lift the engine cover, lift only on the front part (edge closest to her looking into the bay), then pull towards her.

Thank you guys, very much appreciated!
One more question from the wife:

Whats the button next to the cupholder for?

Hey guys, doesn't the GT model have the seat warmer switches by the cupholders?
The car didn't come with an owner's manual?

Or it could be a custom switch for whatever that the previous owner installed.

There should be 2 between the cup holders and the shifter/drive selector, and those are the seat warmers.

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/i...1337145735.jpg


If it's anything else, it's not OEM. Or if you have a cup holder anywhere else it's not OEM, and the button could be anything at that point.

Have a good tour of Iraq. I was in the South in and around Basrah in 2003 for the war and went back and stayed in Baghdad Green Zone and by the Al Faw Palace. Great place to live always beautiful weather, nothing to spend your money on and Steak and Lobster tail every Friday.

I wonder which triple gauge cluster that is? I want one. It looks much better than this type:
http://www.rotaryfx.com/v/vspfiles/photos/INT1008-2.jpg

No idea, just snagged the pic from a google image search

thanks for your service

heres a 2004 manual that will be the same for her 2005. tell her to read it through thoroughly

https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...004_owners.pdf

Thank you guys!

Attachment 240305

This is this is the switch I am referring to. Sorry about the quality, wife used her phone.

That's aftermarket... and very bizarre, might have the orientation of the picture reversed but that little cut out if the plastic is where you tighten the ebrake. Not sure why someone would put a switch there....

I have no idea. I doubt I would've bought the car if I had known it was there.

That's not a factory switch. Can be a lot of things, like ignition or fuel cut off switch, bass on/off, and who knows what else.

How would I find out? Just wait til I go home and tear it apart and follow the wire(I'm assuming there'd be one)?

Yep, only thing to do is follow the wire.

Dang, I'm no good at things like this. :/

There was another "what's this switch?" thread recently.

Take a look through for all their suggestions, and how messy it got :)

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/what-small-switch-under-dash-223892/

tell her to take it where you bought it and ask them what it is.